Thanks Gillian. We sail in April on Ventura.
I’m a bit of a worrier, so was going to just book the ship’s excursion, but it sounds a lot less expensive to make our own way?
There are 5 of us and our eldest son is autistic so we try to make things run smoothly and let him know in advance what we are doing. Getting lost or left behind is something that is stressing me out.

The train actually gives you more flexibility as your aren't tied to get back to the coach but can get the train when you want to. Think the excursion coaches park near / at the station anyway.
If you look on cruise critic at the Port guide think it will give taxi prices, for 5 of you this may be OK, certainly cheaper than excursion and may be doable for return journey? cruisecritic/ports/newport.cfm?ID=78

When we visited Bruges, we booked a bus shuttle on viator.com.
Turn right when you reach the main rd outside the port and the coach stop was about a 5 minute walk on the right. It dropped us off in a car park and it was an easy 5 minute stroll to the city. It cost £20 pp and was very simple to use and left regularly.
Bruges is beautiful and very walkable.viator/tours/Bruges/.../d4836-22540P1

We used the free shuttle bus provided from the ship (ventura) to the train station too, like the others said its then 5 euros each for a return ticket into the city. Easy walk from the station and we loved doing it at our own pace.

Jut wanted to chip in with an idea- when we did Bruges we booked an excursion via the cruise line that was around £50 each and included coach transport each way, a guide, a walking tour, a boat tour and around 2hrs free time. It was really really good and I wouldn't have wanted to see Bruges any other way! The walking tour was so informative and they showed us loads of places we wouldn't have found just wandering on our own, and also it helped orientate us to the main areas. The boat tour is lovely to do for all the views, and we got to walk right past the line and straight onto a boat. Loved having free time too as we got to mooch in all the chocolate shops and eat waffles! We also had time to go in the French Fries museum.

Some cruise ports we love just getting off for a wander by ourselves but this was one we felt really benefitted from a guide.

Jut wanted to chip in with an idea- when we did Bruges we booked an excursion via the cruise line that was around £50 each and included coach transport each way, a guide, a walking tour, a boat tour and around 2hrs free time. It was really really good and I wouldn't have wanted to see Bruges any other way! The walking tour was so informative and they showed us loads of places we wouldn't have found just wandering on our own, and also it helped orientate us to the main areas. The boat tour is lovely to do for all the views, and we got to walk right past the line and straight onto a boat. Loved having free time too as we got to mooch in all the chocolate shops and eat waffles! We also had time to go in the French Fries museum.

Some cruise ports we love just getting off for a wander by ourselves but this was one we felt really benefitted from a guide.

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That’s something we’d like. I’m going to have a good look when I’m able to actually book. Thank you 😊

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